AFL 2024: Live updates, SuperCoach scores for super Sunday, round 18
A tackle that took Tim Taranto out of the game will be heavily scrutinised. Meanwhile, Lachie Neale is having a day out in Perth. FOLLOW LIVE
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The Giants have pushed Port Adelaide out of the eight and Gold Coast’s finals hopes are alive after some big Sunday results.
Gold Coast withstood a Power fightback to record a mature win after Damien Hardwick’s “passionate” press conference a week ago in which declared it was time for Gold Coast to “grow the f--- up”.
The Giants took care of Richmond to record back-to-back wins and push the Power to ninth.
In the final game of the round, Brisbane held off an emotional West Coast.
Follow all the updates and our SuperCoach analysis below.
7:30pm: WE’RE DONE
Brisbane wins by 13 points and round 18 is in the can.
How did your SuperCoach team go? The answer is likely to be very well if you had Lachie Neale as captain.
You could do worse than just leave the C on him from here – he’s averaging a crazy 144 points over his past four games.
7:24pm: LIONS HOME
Brisbane seals victory with a goal from, guess who – Lachie Neale.
Could he become a triple Brownlow medallist?
7:10pm: EAGLES ALIVE
West Coast is still in this. Oscar Allen’s goal cuts the margin to 12 points with nine minutes to play.
And Lachie Neale is slowing down, scoring just nine SuperCoach points in the final term so far.
6:51pm: THREE QUARTER-TIME
Lachie Neale has brought his own footy. He scored 179 last week, can he match that today?
Harley Reid has had some spectacular moments but he sits on just 50 points at the final change.
6:35pm: LACHIE EVERYWHERE
Lachie Neale has cracked the SuperCoach ton with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
He has 23 disposals and has just added a goal with a brilliant drop punt from the boundary line which survived a lengthy score review.
6:05pm: HALFTIME
Lachie Neale was a hot captain tip this week in SuperCoach on the back of an average of 133 points in his past three games against the Eagles – and he’s on track to at least match that today. And partner in crime Josh Dunkley isn’t far behind.
Dayne Zorko has 49 points from 10 disposals.
6:00pm: GIANTS WIN
GWS has created a bit of history by recording its highest ever score at the MCG – not a bad effort from just 36 inside-50s, 17 fewer than the Tigers.
Toby Green was enormous with four goals straight and 10 score involvements.
Tom Green had a game-high 37 disposals but they came at just 40 per cent efficiency. He finished with 91 SuperCoach points.
Toby Nankervis had a team-high 108 for the Tigers but Kieren Briggs has found form with a three-round average of 120.
The big talking point will be Toby Bedford’s tackle that appears to have concussed Tim Taranto.
5:43pm: GREEN STEPS UP
Every player named Green is standing up here.
Toby Greene leads all SuperCoach scorers with 137 points midway through the final quarter.
And Steely Green has just kicked two goals in a minute to cut the margin to 19 points.
He has 47 SuperCoach points. Tom Green now has 81.
5:35pm: TARANTO SMASHED IN BIG TACKLE
Shai Bolton appears to be OK but the Tigers have lost possibly an even more important player with Tim Taranto leaving the field.
His head smashed into the turf in a big tackle from Toby Bedford, who has been on his hammer all afternoon.
Tim will need a concussion test and we might not see him for a while. So what does that mean for Bedford?
Meanwhile, Stephen Coniglio has been subbed out with what looks like a shoulder injury.
Tim Taranto came from the ground following this contest.#AFLTigersGiantspic.twitter.com/vw4XAmBsBY
— AFL (@AFL) July 14, 2024
5:22pm: THREE QUARTER-TIME
A dagger for the Tigers with just 10 seconds left in the third term as the umpire pays a free kick against Kamdyn McIntosh for pushing over an opponent at half-back.
There didn’t look a lot in it, and to add insult to injury the free was paid where the ball was – at the top of the GWS goalsquare.
Jesse Hogan makes no mistake and the Giants look to have this one in the bag, despite having 11 fewer inside-50s than the Tigers.
Tom Green has 62 SuperCoach points from 29 disposals at the final change.
5:15pm: QUARTER-TIME
West Coast showing plenty of fight in Perth – is it the old sacked coach effect?
But they don’t have an answer to Lachie Neale, who already has 10 disposals and three score involvements.
5:11pm: ANOTHER TIGER DOWN
Richmond’s horror injury toll could be about to get worse with Shai Bolton limping with what looks like a groin injury.
The Tigers have already used more than 40 players this season.
The Giants’ efficiency going forward is absolutly killing Richmond here. The Tigers are doing a lot of things right, leading clearances 29-19 and inside-50s 39-25.
But the Giants have added 5.0 this quarter to 2.3.
Toby Greene is having a huge afternoon, already on 125 SuperCoach points. Tom Green is up to 63.
4:44pm: EAGLES’ NEW ERA
Jarrad Schofield has made the perfect start to his AFL coaching tenure as Jake Waterman slots the opening goal of the game following a brilliant build-up from Harley Reid.
4:38pm: SIMMO’S AWKWARD GOODBYE
Adam Simpson didn’t get a farewell game as coach today but he is part of the game, briefly addressing the crowd before tossing the coin at Optus Stadium.
He waves to the crowd who deliver a rousing round of applause before the Eagles take on the Lions.
“He is feeling a little bit awkward about tossing the coin, to be honest, you can see that,” Will Schofield says on Fox Footy.
Adam Simpson, you are a legend. All class to the very end. #ThanksSimmo#AFLEaglesLions
— Cass (@missnix) July 14, 2024
A standing ovation for Adam Simpson from the Eagles faithful ♥ï¸
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 14, 2024
📺 Watch #AFLEaglesLions LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/C09CBVNLUI
âœï¸ BLOG https://t.co/03WbpsYTUk
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/hlrL7CwUuLpic.twitter.com/xtmwggVWnR
4:30pm: HALFTIME
Toby is the one we all picked in SuperCoach, right?
The GWS captain has three goals and has used the footy at 100 per cent efficiency from his nine disposals (just quietly he was $405k going into this round).
Tom Green, meanwhile, has 17 touches but is going at just 35 per cent efficiency. He has 40 SuperCoach points at halftime.
This is an entertaining contest, and it’s all about efficiency going forward. Richmond leads the inside-50s 29-18 but the Giants have scored 13 times from their entries, and the Tigers have scored 13 from theirs (and missed a few sitters).
4:05pm: TOM GREEN WATCH
Green is up to 15 disposals approaching the midway point of the second quarter.
His efficiency is just 40 per cent but volume (plus seven contested possessions and two tackles) has helped him to 32 SuperCoach points.
He got a bonus touch when he gathered the ball on the wing – replays showed it clearly crossed the boundary line before he fired off a handball.
The Tigers are putting up a fight here with Shai Bolton cutting the margin to five points.
Shai stays down and shows off his speed 💨#AFLTigersGiantspic.twitter.com/jEgxqZRUdz
— AFL (@AFL) July 14, 2024
3:55pm: QUARTER-TIME
Tom Green is the leading ball-winner on the ground at the first change, but it isn’t helping him in SuperCoach.
A big run-down tackle at the end of the quarter lifted Toby Nankervis to a healthy score for those who brought him in to replace Max Gawn.
3:46: GREEN THE BUTCHER
Tom Green is on for a huge day, at least in terms of disposals.
Converting those into SuperCoach points has been an issue for him all season.
Late in the first quarter he has 10 disposals but only three of them have hit the target - which explains his 13 SuperCoach points.
3:45: FT — MATURE SUNS HOLD ON
Gold Coast has shown immense maturity just a week after its coach demanded it grew up.
The Suns were tested late by the talented Port Adelaide but stood tall against every test.
Noah Anderson was enormous and it was reflective in his late rush to a top SuperCoach score.
The win keeps the Suns’ perfect home record in tact but will be marred by two incidents that are sure to be looked at by the match review panel.
Port Adelaide, meanwhile, let a chance to finish the round inside the top four slip through its fingers.
3:36: SUNS SOAK UP THE CLOCK
There’s just six minutes left at People First Stadium and Port Adelaide need four goals.
The Suns have shown maturity in this last term, repelling the last-gasp push the Power has thrown at them.
Noah Anderson has rocketed to 119 SuperCoach points with a compelling last term.
3:32: ANOTHER POWER PLAYER DOWN
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is the latest Port Adelaide player to hobble to the interchange after he was collected by Ben King.
There was nothing in the contact and the Power defender was very brave but he came off worse for wear with the Suns’ spearhead.
The Power are already two men down.
3:28: TIGERS’ STRONG START
Liam Baker kicked the first goal against GWS before Toby Nankervis blew his chance to make it a two-goal advantage after a big contested mark against Kieren Briggs.
Darcy Jones made the Tigers pay with a quick reply at the other end.
Toby Bedford has gone straight to Tim Taranto, while Tom Green is going head-to-head with Dion Prestia in the middle.
3:26: AN EVEN SPREAD
Gold Coast has had a terrific spread of contributors today.
The Suns are yet to have a SuperCoach centurion but have all but three players with 40 or more SuperCoach points.
16 Suns have 50 or more and seven have 75 or more.
3:19: HUGE START SUNS
Bailey Humphrey has made life hard for Port Adelaide with the first major of the fourth quarter.
The Suns’ lead is back out to 23 points inside the first minute of the last stanza.
The small forward’s second major has pushed him to 65 SuperCoach points.
3:10: 3QT — BUTTERS GIVES POWER A CHANCE
A goal from Zak Butters just seconds before the three-quarter time siren has given Port Adelaide some much-needed momentum heading into the final term.
The Suns still lead by 17 points but that is far more manageable than the 23-point margin it was before Butters’ goal.
The goal has propelled Butters to the top of the SuperCoach leaderboard with 30 minutes of footy to play.
The Suns made their sub late in that term, with Jed Walter making way for Will Graham.
3:06: QUIET ROWELL
Gold Coast is in a commanding position despite little impact from star on-baller Matt Rowell.
Rowell has had just nine disposals (three kicks) and two clearances for a return of 43 SuperCoach points.
He has applied seven tackles but it would be a positive to coach Damien Hardwick that the Suns are still leading without the typical output from the Suns star.
3:01: SUNS SKIP AWAY
Gold Coast has undone all of Port Adelaide’s good work to surge back out to a 22-point lead.
Defender Sam Collins, who is flawless by foot today, has a team-high 87 SuperCoach points while Dan Houston leads all comers with 90.
The Suns are yet to activate their sub while the Power are a man down on the bench.
2:48: ANOTHER SUN IN TROUBLE?
Another Gold Coast Sun could be in for a nervous wait after Malcolm Rosas threw an errant forearm.
The strike floored Port Adelaide’s Logan Evans for some time.
Evans is currently on the interchange.
The hit comes after Alex Davies knocked out Lachie Jones with a high bump.
Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph said he couldn’t see Davies getting less than three weeks on the half time coverage.
Malcolm Rosas was involved in this incident with Logan Evans.#AFLSunsPowerpic.twitter.com/eI7X0gEmyb
— AFL (@AFL) July 14, 2024
2:45: HUMPHREY SETTLES
Bailey Humphrey has kicked a well-needed settler for the Suns.
Port has had the ascendancy this half and needed a goal to push it back out to 12 points.
2:41: NARKLE SPARKS PORT
Quinton Narkle has kickstarted Port Adelaide with the first goal of the second half.
The Power won it out of the middle and hit up the leading Narkle on a lead.
The Suns’ lead is back to 11 points.
2:35: SUBS NAMED AT THE MCG
James Trezise and James Peatling have been named as Richmond and GWS’ respective substitutes for the next match.
Neither side has had a late change.
2:20: HT — SUNS POUNCE ON WOUNDED POWER
A six-goal second term has guided the Gold Coast Suns to a 17-point main break lead over Port Adelaide.
The Suns were excellent that quarter, particularly on transition and then inside 50.
But the Power are the walking wounded, having lost Jones (concussion), Marshall (hamstring) and now Bergman is hobbling with another injury complaint.
Dan Houston was super that quarter for the visitors while Ned Moyle and Sam Collings lifted for the Suns.
A top-four spot awaits the Power if they can manage to overcome the Suns.
2:16: WELCOME, JASON
Jason Horne-Francis has finally asserted himself in the contest after a terrible first quarter and a half.
Horne-Francis didn’t have a touch in the first term and had just one handball before his recent mark and goal.
He now has 15 SuperCoach points.
2:10: BOAK MISSES ... AGAIN
Port Adelaide great Travis Boak has kicked a behind to keep his streak alive.
He has kicked 14 straight minor scores since his last major.
The Suns are running amok at the other end, now leading by 17 points.
2:05: MARSHALL OUT!
Port Adelaide has been reduced to one less man on the bench after Todd Marshall was ruled out with a hamstring.
He went off after colliding with teammate Charlie Dixon in a marking contest.
The Power has already lost Lachie Jones through concussion.
1:58: MARSHALL DOWN
Power forward Todd Marshall has hobbled from the ground holding his hamstring.
He got hurt through friendly fire, with Charlie Dixon landing awkwardly on Marshall following a marking contest.
Dan Houston also received a knock to the head in a marking contest and is on the interchange.
Port Adelaide has already activated its sub.
1:53: RUNNING HOT
Port Adelaide defenders Kane Farrell and Dan Houston have already combined for 100 SuperCoach points.
Farrell has 53 while Houston has 47.
They are well ahead of the next best on the ground.
It’s not doing much for the visitors however, with the Suns back in front.
1:46: JONES OUT
Lachie Jones has been subbed out with head and neck soreness.
Alex Davies bumped Jones high early in the first quarter, which resulted in the Port Adelaide defender leaving the ground in the hands of the trainers.
Francis Evans has been added into the game.
Lachie Jones left the field after this incident with Alex Davies.#AFLSunsPowerpic.twitter.com/VqtU2BtfZ4
— AFL (@AFL) July 14, 2024
1:43: FARRELL FIRES UP
Kane Farrell has produced a fierce first quarter to hand Port Adelaide the early lead.
The dashing defender accumulated 48 SuperCoach points, which could have been even more if it wasn’t for a late turnover.
His final score involvement of the quarter allowed Ollie Lord to put the Power in front after the siren.
Lachie Jones is yet to return to the field after Alex Davies hit him high.
Jason Horne-Francis is missing, with zero disposals and just four SuperCoach points.
1:35: KING TIES IT UP
Ben King’s first goal has tied the scores during red-time of the opening term.
The Power turned the ball over at centre-half back and King was left in a strong position deep inside 50.
It’s his 44th goal for the season.
1:32: COACH KILLER
Charlie Ballard should do his best to avoid coach Damien Hardwick at the quarter-time huddle after failing to touch the ball on the line.
Jackson Mead wheeled onto his left and set sail for an open goal square.
Ballard tried to stop it on the line but lost his footing and missed the ball, which bounced through.
1:27: WHERE’S JHF?
Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis has a case of the Suns’ travelling blues early in this one.
Horne-Francis is yet to touch the footy and has -2 SuperCoach points, with just seven minutes left in the first term.
He is owned by 12 per cent of SuperCoaches.
1:22: POWER DEFENDER DOWN
Port Adelaide defender Lachie Jones has left the field unsteadily after being collected high by Suns’ forward Alex Davies.
Jones was awarded a free kick but didn’t take it as he left the field in the hands of the trainers.
Davies hit Jones carelessly and will be in trouble with the match review panel.
1:18: WINES STRIKES FIRST
Ollie Wines has kicked Port Adelaide’s first of the afternoon.
It’s perfect conditions on the Gold Coast but it hasn’t been matched with fast footy just yet.
Wines’ major has propelled him to the top of the SuperCoach leaderboard with 18.
1:11: MATCH-UP MADE
It appears Gold Coast’s Ben Long will fulfill a negating forward role on Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston.
Long did a superb job in the same role on Geelong’s Tom Stewart earlier this year.
Neither side has hit the scoreboard.
12:30: FINAL TEAMS
Port Adelaide and the Gold Coast Suns have named their respective substitutes for Sunday’s September-shaping match.
Francis Evans is the Power’s sub while Will Graham will be the mid-game inclusion for the hosts.
Neither side has had a late change.
Originally published as AFL 2024: Live updates, SuperCoach scores for super Sunday, round 18
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